OCTOBER 24 • 2024 | 55
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late Paula Gruenberg. 
Interment took place at Adat 
Shalom Memorial Park Cemetery 
in Livonia. Contributions may be 
made to a charity of one’s choice. 
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

GARY DAVID KUKES, 
M.D., Ph.D., 83, passed 
away on Oct. 2, 2024.
Gary was born on 
Sept. 24, 1941, in Detroit 
to Beatrice and Joseph 
Kukes. Though he lived most of his 
adult life in California, Gary often 
reminisced fondly about growing up 
in the Palmer Woods neighborhood 
of Detroit. After graduating from 
Mumford High School in 1959, 
he went on to UCLA, where he 
completed his bachelor’s, Ph.D., M.D. 
degrees and residency in pathology. 
Gary valued education and was 
endlessly curious about nature, 
science and history. His quirky 

sense of humor could bring a bit of 
wildness to any moment, but he was 
always grounded by sincerity and the 
search for wisdom. 
Gary is survived by his wife, Lynn 
Kukes; daughter and son-in-law, 
Thellea and JC Leveque, and their 
children; sister, Nance Kukes; brother 
and sister-in-law, Roger Kukes and 
Linnea Gilson; living-angel kidney 
donor, Lisa Kutzke; and siblings-
in-law, close cousins, nieces and 
nephews. 
Gary was preceded in death by 
his father, Joseph Kukes; mother 
and stepfather, Beatrice and Samuel 
Goldstein; cousin, Andrew Kukes, 
and sister, Toby Alves.
An interment ceremony will take 
place Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, at 10 
a.m. at Clover Hill Park Cemetery.

MARILYN LUEBECK, of Novi, died 
Oct. 8, 2024.
She was born on Aug. 8, 1929, to 

Benno and Grace Gruenberg in her 
beloved New York City. She went on 
to complete her bachelor’s at Cornell 
in 1949, where she thrived in the 
social scene making lifelong friends.
In 1952, Marilyn married Alvin 
Luebeck. The two moved to Illinois 
and went on to have three children, 
Elise Buckner, Andrew and Joel 
Luebeck. In the Midwest, the family 
spent many cherished weekends 
together with Marilyn’s sisters, Evelyn 
Herman, Claire Gertler and their 
families. 
Marilyn dedicated her life to the 
service of others. As a social worker, 
she helped those with substance 
abuse and children of unstable 
homes. In the 1990s, Marilyn 
retired and spent her time invested 
in the Birmingham, Mich., JCC 
Institute for Retired Professionals. 
Throughout her time at IRP, she 
was involved in lively discussions 
on literature, theater and film. It 

is the appreciation for the arts and 
democratic ideals that Marilyn will 
be remembered for. 
Marilyn was predeceased by 
her parents, Benno and Grace 
Gruenberg; her husband, Alvin 
Luebeck; her adored sisters, Evelyn 
and Claire; her cherished daughter, 
Elise Buckner. She is survived by her 
sons, Andrew and Joel Luebeck; her 
daughter-in-law, Melinda Luebeck; 
and her six grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family 
requests donations be made 
to Grinspoon Hillel at Cornell 
University.

DR. HARRIS W. 
MAINSTER, 87, of 
Bloomfield Hills, died 
Oct. 10, 2024. He was 
and will forever be a 
legend, especially for so 
many impressive, generous deeds he 
did, and about which he never 

continued on page 56

For the peace you need . . .
for the respect of the life you treasured.

